Promoting women's leadership and equity in education and business

Please join the Mayor – Cr Angelica Panopoulos and our expert panel of female leaders from areas in which women are under-represented, including business and education, who will share their experiences and learnings.

About our guest speakers

Alexia Fragedakis

Alexia is the owner of Supergloss Accident Repair Centre, representing just 2% of females in the vehicle repair industry. She opened the business prior to COVID in 2019 and now employs 12 staff, including a female spray painter. Alexia’s vision and aim is to develop the car collision industry towards being more gender-balanced and inclusive.

Prior to entering this business Alexia held a range of senior roles in organisational capability, human resources and development, in large corporate organisations, including Telstra where she worked for 15 years.

Laura Hughes

Laura works as a Career Counsellor. She is passionate about helping people lead a values-driven life, contributing to their communities and crafting a career that they love.

She is currently Pathways Counsellor at Brunswick Secondary College, helping 1,000 young people and their families, and also consults as an independent Professional Careers Counsellor for adults.

Rima Darwiche

Rima studied Medical Science and Pharmacy and is the founder and CEO of Central Pharmacy Logistics Australia, a clinical drug trial service that provides innovative Direct-To-Patient product delivery so that patients across the country, including in regional and remote areas, have access to life-saving investigational therapies.

Rima is keen to inspire young women by sharing her migrant story of overcoming language barriers, financial hardship and an overall lack of opportunity.

Dr. Maddy Yewers

Dr Maddy Yewers has worked in the tertiary sector for over 14 years as a teacher, researcher, educator, program coordinator and manager of student-facing as well as staff-focused work. She is a scientific PhD graduate and brings her research practices into the design, management, implementation, and evaluation of projects.

She has led and established suites of STEM programs for high school, vocational education and university students focusing not only on the creative and technical hands-on aspects but creating connection and mentoring opportunities to further STEM communication, education and careers.

She is currently Project Managing RMIT’s intersectional gender equity initiatives for students and the workforce across STEM areas including a Commonwealth Government supported project on National best practice for women in STEM outreach and engagement. What she enjoys most about her role is partnering with similarly values-driven colleagues for meaningful partnerships and progress across community, industry and the education sector.

Registrations essential